. >>> new this morning, president obama is urging lawmakers to pass a short term package of spending cuts and tax revenue to head off across-the-board cuts set to kick in on march 1st. in his weekly address he said proposed stop-gap action would avoid the so-called sequester that would trigger huge automatic spending cuts. he's asking congress for a smaller set of spending cuts and tax changes as they get a better plan. >> they don't think it's good idea to put thousands of jobs arteriesing and do unnecessary harm to the economy. yet the current plan puts the cuts mainly on seniors and middle class families. they would rather and more from the vast majority of americans and put the economy at risk than close a single tax loophole that benefits the well think. >>? the republican address, a senator from alaska said the u.s. must ramp up domestic energy production, including the keystone xl pipeline. >>> as the bay area struggles with tighter budgets, a plan is being pitched to erase the boundaries that separates cities and counties and consolidate services. david louie explains what is